Attractions
• Chiricahua National Monument: Historical ranching, hiking and camping are offered on this ‘wonderland of rocks’, which is also home to the Sky Island Region, four seasons and four ecosystems of plants and animals. Willcox.
• Boyce Thompson Arboretum: Some 3.2 kilometres of trails reveal a hummingbird and butterfly garden and desert ecosystems. Superior.
• Sunrise Park Resort: Offers 65 ski runs, separate snowboarding areas, a terrain park, cross-country ski trails and a children’s ‘ski-wee’ area in the winter months. There’s biking, fishing and hiking in the summer months. Greer.
• Sunset Crater National Monument: Ranger programs and self-guided trails are available on the crater. Near Flagstaff.
• Heard Museum: One of the most extensive displays of Native American artifacts and art in the US at the Heard Museum Downtown in Phoenix and the Heard Museum Scottsdale.
• Canyon de Chelly National Monument: An amazing, 300-metre gorge carved eons ago by water and wind. Near Chinle.
• Grand Canyon Railway: An authentic train ride on vintage locomotives like those of the early 1900s. Williams.
•Antelope Canyon: Gently carved from the Navajo sandstone over countless millennia, the slot canyons provide just enough space for the occasional shaft of sunlight to shine through. Page.
• The University Of Arizona Biosphere 2: Go ‘behind the glass’ to experience a Western hemisphere rainforest. Tucson.
• Taliesin West: Built in 1937 by Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices. Scottsdale.
• Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park: Offers a glimpse of convict life more than a century ago. Yuma.
• Pima Air And Space Museum: One of the largest air and space museums housing many rare air and space craft. Tucson.
• Monument Valley Tribal Park: One of the grandest and most photographed landmarks in the US, this sprawling, sandy preserve spans the border between Arizona and Utah. Located on the Navajo Reservation, four hours northeast of Flagstaff and near the four corners area.
Events
• Monument Valley Hot Air Balloon Event (January), Kayenta.
• Wuertz Farm Gourd Festival (February), Casa Grande.
• Archaeology And Heritage Awareness Month (March), Phoenix.
• County Fair (April), Yuma.
• Cinco De Mayo Festival And Chihuahua Races (May), Chandler.
• Flagstaff Wine And Food Festival (June), Flagstaff.
• Prescott Frontier Days And World’s Oldest Rodeo (July), Prescott.
• Navajo Festival Of Arts And Culture (August), Flagstaff.
• Navajo Festival of Arts And Culture (August), Flagstaff.
• Red Rocks Music Festival (September), Sedona.
• Brew And Bats Oktoberfest (October), Kingman.
• Chambers Of Fear Haunted House And Bell Mar Bash (November), Surprise.
• Arizona Balloon Classic (December), Gilbert.
Places
• Phoenix: Attractions include South Mountain Park, the Heard Museum and the Desert Botanical Garden.
• Scottsdale: Sonoran Desert offers pristine hiking trails, boulder-strewn mountains and hot-air balloon rides.
• Prescott: Beautifully restored Victorian homes with carefully manicured lawns line the quiet streets, and there are more than 500 buildings that are on the National Historic Register.
• Lake Havasu: Home to the world famous London Bridge and English Village.
• Yuma: This agricultural community on the Colorado River is known today as the lettuce capital of the world. Enjoy boating, camping, off-roading and casinos.
• Tucson: Once a rowdy frontier town, this modern city is filled with historical, cultural, scientific and natural attractions. Highlights include Mission San Xavier del Bac, the Tucson Museum of Art, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park East and West.
• Kingman: Kingman is known as the ‘Heart of Historic Route 66’ and has more than 60 local buildings listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Attractions include the Powerhouse Visitor Center, Bonelli House and the Mohave Museum.
• Hopi Reservation: Hopi villages are found at the base and the top of three mesas dominating the landscape. Internationally acclaimed as artisans, First Mesa is known for its pottery, Second Mesa for coiled basketry and Third Mesa for wicker basketry.
Hidden Gems
• Rancho De La Osa Guest Ranch: One of the last great haciendas in America. Sasabe.
• Highway 89 – A Loop Scenic Drive: Ranked as one of America’s most scenic drives. Pass through the historic copper mining town of Jerome, the largest ghost town in America and Tuzigoot National Monument. Between Prescott and Sedona.
Did you know?
• State Motto: God Enriches
• State Flower: Saguaro Cactus Bloom
• State Bird: Cactus Wren
Fast Facts
• Region: SOUTH WEST
• America’s Byways: Coronado Trail ScenicByway, Historic Route 66, Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Parkway, Red Rock Scenic Byway, Ski Island Scenic Byway.